Train order holding and delivering structure



Oct. 23, 1934. R. J. PARKS 1,978,322

TRAIN ORDER HOLDING AND DELIVERING STRUCTURE Filed June 25, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Attorney Oct. 23, 1934. I R J PARKS 1,978,322

TRAIN ORDER HOLDING AND DELIVERING STRUCTURE Filed June 25, 1934 a Sheets-Sheet 2 I Lj 22 3/ 34 4o 4/ 26 ,3 A 38 29 u- T 27 V V" 32 34 39 4 28 2/ 26 3 3' x a v MW- a "-"1m I L-ao 23 I. Inventor 7?. J. Par/ks 77 ,2. MQM f Attorney R. J. PARKS TRAIN ORDER HOLDING AND DELIVERING STRUCTURE Filed June 25, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 3 s M P J a Attorney Patented Oct. 23, 1934 PATENT OFFICE TRAIN 01mm HOLDING AND DELIvERING STRUCTURE 4 Robert J. Parks, Cedar City, Mo. 1 Application June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,327

cal structural assemblage for use iirconjunction with railroad. tracks and moving trains wherein said structure is expressly designed and made for the purpose of delivering messages, notes, and

Ili The fact that so few, if any, of these prior devices are at present ,inuse on the railroads has inspired the development and production of the invention constituting the subject matter of this application which invention, it is believed, is suffi- 3 cientlyresponsive and, sensitive to fulfill the requirements to an extent to promote its adoption and use and endorsement by the trade. 1

One feature of the invention, as will be hereinafter explicitly pointed, out, is found in the con- I struction of a special hoop attaching device carried by the moving train and so made as to satisfactorily operate irrespective of the direction of movement of the train and to effectively retain the message carrying .hoop or holder until I manually removed for final delivery of the message. r a i The principal novelty, however, is predicated upon the structure utilized for supporting the message holding hoop in its take oif position, said equipped with a sensitive and responsive retention device for said hoop Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the, following de- 1 scription and drawings.

In the drawings:

portion of a moving train showing the duplex type catcher mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is an elevational view showing the relatively fixed part of the structural assembly, that is, the means for holding the train order hoop in operative position.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure. 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of the spring finger equipped hoop retention device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the train catcher or hoop grabbing device.

means embodying a support and an arm structure 3Claims. (Grass-20) This invention relates to an improved mechani Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional and elevational view taken on the plane of the irregular line 66 of Figure 5. v

Figure? is a fragmentary view of the inner end portion ofthe lever unit of said catcher.

Figures 8 and 9 are detail perspective views of the finger elements of the hoop retention device.

Referring now to the drawings by detail reference numerals and to the train and catcher carried thereby, it will be seen that the train is denoted by the numeral 10. On this I provide one or more message hoop catchers. Inasmuch as each device is the same in construction, a description of one will suflice for all. It will be noted in Figures 5, 6, and 7 that the muneral ll denotes a suitable attaching bracket or, fixture which is se cured toone of the. cars or to, the conductors caboose or at such other points as to eifectively capture the message carrying hoop. This bracket, as detailed in Figure 6, comprises an attaching plate 12 having a pair of spaced parallel flanges 13 and 14 between which the shank portion 15 of the hook carrying lever is pivoted as indicated at 16. Normally this lever is adaptedto occupy a horizontal operating position but is capable of being swung downwardly to, an out-of-the-way clear position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. Looking at Figure 7 it will be noted that the shank 15 is provided with upper and lower depressions 1'7 and 18 forming keeper seats for selective receptionof the spring pressed detent or ball 19 which serves as a latch. This ball is contained in a suitable cylinder 20 attached to the flange 14 which cylinder in. turn is provided with the pressure spring 21. Thus the lever or arm can. be held up in the full line position shown in Figure 5 at which time the ball 19 is seated in the depression 18. Or it can be dropped down as shown in dotted lines in the samefigure at which time the ball is forced into the seat 1'7. In either event it is obvious that the arrangement com- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a.

prises an attachingbracket 11 to accommodate a swingable lever. which lever is pivotedflin the bracket as indicated at 16 and movable to either one of the positions shown in Figure 5. On its free or outer end portion the lever is equipped with oppositely pointing suitably curved and proportioned grabbing hooks 22. These are ararranged so that the hoop catcher will be ready to snare the hoops irrespective of the direction of movement of the train. It has been found that this type of a catcher operates with amazing certainty and rapidity. Moreover, when once the hoop is caught it is held effectively in place untilremoved by an attendant on the train.

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Attention is now invited to Figure 2 wherein the primary part of the structure is illustrated. This comprises a support here shown as embodying a base 23 anchored close to the track and serving to support a standard 24 preferably of tubular form. On the upper end of the standard is a lamp or suitable headlight means 25 to facilitate use and operation of the device after nightfall. The message holding hoop is denoted by the numeral 26 and is of more or less conventional type and constructed with spring clips 27 to hold the note, message or order 28 in the manner shown in this figure. This hoop is of course provided with the customary, handle 29, which part is adapted to be yieldably held by the complemental retention means on said standard 24. Although the means just referred 'to is shown in plural assembly, it is understood that the device in each instance is the same in construction and a description of one will suffice for all. Each device or means comprises an arm 30 of appropriate dimensions and material. This is attached by a double spring hinge 31 to the post or standard. This is so as to allow the arm tobe swung to an out-of-the-way or clearance position. When swung to the latter position the hook 32 is engaged with the eye bolt 33.

Of exceptional importance is the resilient clamp carried on the free end of the arm. This clamp is referred to, as a unit, as the hoop retention device. Moreover, in its broadest aspects, it may be said to be a resilient finger equipped means on the free end of the swingable arm 30 which is expressly designed and fashioned to accommodate the handle or stick 29 of the hoop so as to maintain it satisfactorily in take-off position and so as to allow it to be removed with a quick snap-action by the catcher on the moving train. This means is skillfully designed and therefore sensitive and responsive and in its preferred embodiment comprises a pair of companion spring fingers. Each finger is of thetype shown in Figure 9 wherein it will be observed that the inner end portion 34 is attachable .to the arm, while the intermediate portion 35 is longitudinally bowed to provide the requisite inherent resiliency. The free end portion 36 which forms the finger proper is curved transversely as at 37 to conform to the sticks or handles 29 and has its extremity flared outwardly as at 38 to facilitate insertion and removal of the sticks. The two fingers are disposed in opposed relationship as shown in Figure 4 and are braced through the instrumentality of complemental fiat springs. Each spring has a longitudinally bowed portion 39 which conforms to the corresponding portion 35 of the fingerv and which is fastened thereto as indicated at 40. The free end portion 41 of the spring bears against the finger just inward of the flare. It is evident,

therefore, that I have a pivoted arm on a standard or post formed on its outer end with a pair of companion spring fingers suitably shaped and. braced to effectively accommodate the stick portion of the message carrying hoop. It follows, therefore, that when the parts are in the associated relationship shown in Figure 3 and as the train moves along, one of the hooks grabs the message containing hoop, pulling the stick out from between the claws or fingers in a manner to carry it along with the train until it is removed and the note read by the intended party. It is evident that this device does away entirely with the present day method of persons standing alongside of the track and handing the messages to attendants on moving trains.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A structure of the class described comprising a hoop catcher embodying an attaching bracket, a lever pivotally connected with said bracket, said lever being provided on its outer end with a pair of oppositely diverging longitudinally curved hoop snatching hooks, the inner end portion of said lever being provided with selectively usable depressions forming keeper seats, and said bracket being provided with a spring pressed detent engageable with said seats so as to hold the lever in its usual horizontal operative position or to allow it to drop down to an out-of-the-way position.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a standard, a horizontally disposed arm hingedly attached at its inner end to said standard, said arm being provided on its free end portion with upper and lower duplicate companion resilient clamping fingers, said fingers being flared in opposite directions at their extremities, having their intermediate portions longitudinally bowed, and there being resilient bracing springs associated with said fingers.

3. In a structure of the class described, a supporting arm for train order holding hoops, said arm at one end thereof having secured thereto a pair of complemental resilient gripping fingers, said gripping fingers having parallel straight end portions and curved intermediate portions, said fingers having one end portion thereof secured to the arm at opposite sides of the latter and the free end portions thereof adapted to receive therebetween the handle of a train order holding hoop, the last named end portions of said fingers being reversely flared to facilitate insertion and removal of the handle of the hoop relative thereto, and the said intermediate portions of said fingers being curved outwardly from one another.

ROBERT J. PARKS. 

